The Brett Cooper Show

Episode 140: Liberals Are Going to Therapy Over the Olympics
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Brett Cooper

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper delves into the cultural and political aftermath of the 2026 Winter Olympics, focusing on how athletes like Alyssa Liu have become the center of cross-partisan debate and internet uproar. Brett examines why certain Americans—particularly on the left—struggle with displays of patriotism during the Olympics, and how these tensions reflect deeper cultural and generational divides. The discussion weaves together sports, politics, resilience, and the challenges of enjoying national moments in a politicized society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alyssa Liu’s Viral Comeback and Its Cultural Impact

[00:00–06:00]

• Alyssa Liu, after retiring at 16 due to burnout, made a triumphant return at 20 and won gold in women’s ice skating.
• Her comeback story: Liu chose to compete on her own terms—prioritizing joy, setting her own practice times, picking her own music, and rejecting the unhealthy norms of figure skating.
  • Brett’s take: “She said, ‘I'm not gonna be starving myself. I'm gonna be setting my own practice times… I just wanna do this because I love it.’ And apparently, that was the winning strategy.” [01:58]
• The viral moment: After her free skate, Liu exuberantly declared, “That's what I'm fucking talking about”—a clip celebrated for its genuine joy and confidence.
  • Quote (Alyssa Liu): "That's what I'm fucking talking about." [03:11]

2. Shifting the Narrative of Figure Skating

[02:50–07:00]

• Brett contrasts today’s skating culture (agency, joy) with the past focus on pushing young athletes to breakdown.
  • Brett: “Four years ago, figure skating looked like a sport where you won by driving literal children to the point of mental breakdowns. With Alyssa Liu's win, it looks like a sport where you win when skaters have agency and freedom to be themselves.”

3. Alyssa Liu and Politics: A Measured Approach

[04:47–06:00]

• Alyssa’s only notable political commentary came months prior, acknowledging government flaws and supporting immigrant rights.
  • Quote (Alyssa Liu): “I think immigrants deserve rights. I think it's a little silly, especially in America.” [05:32]
• Brett’s response: “Like, big whoop. She's probably on the left. Anybody could see that… I really don't care because she's an amazing skater and she made me feel something.” [05:40]
• Emphasis that Liu “checked her personal politics at the door” for the Olympics, focusing solely on her sport.

4. Online Culture Wars: Who Gets to Celebrate Alyssa Liu?

[06:00–13:00]

• The left online claims Liu as “one of their own," mocking conservatives for cheering her on, pointing to her presumably progressive identity.
  • Notable Quotes (Various Users):
    • "'I'm so confused by right wing accounts trying to claim her as if she isn't clearly a woke bisexual zoomer.'" [07:30]
    • “‘She effing hates you guys…’” [08:20]
• Brett critiques both sides:
  • The left's "litmus test" approach—if an athlete isn’t a staunch progressive, their success must be problematized.
  • The right’s introspection—some conservatives object to supporting Liu at all because of her political background.
    • Quote (Substack Comment): “Alyssa Liu hates you. She believes everything that you hate. …You could not be woke and a patriot at the same time.” [13:40]
  • Brett rejects the purity tests on both sides: “I refuse to allow myself… to turn me into somebody who hates everyone, who might not agree with me and cannot experience joy outside of a political win. …That's not a life that I want to live.” [15:32]
  • Brett: “Anyone with eyes that saw the zebra hair and pierced fucking gums could guess with a 99.98% accuracy that she wasn't exactly right wing. We're just happy that she represented the country and can't unholy ass, your brain is broken.” [16:12]

5. Joyful Patriotism: Why It Resonates

[15:30–16:30]

• Brett celebrates athletes who embrace their national identity, contrasting Liu and the US hockey players with those who are embarrassed to represent America.
  • “It's a bare minimum that I am happy to celebrate because of the world that we have been living in for the last decade where people have been so excited to burn our flag. …Let me have that moment.” [16:30]
• The universality of Liu’s journey—many Americans relate to coming back from burnout and finding joy again on their own terms.

6. Gold for USA Hockey and Unifying Moments

[17:15–19:00]

• Brett highlights the men's hockey gold and the post-game pride.
  • Quote (Jack Hughes): "This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates… we're so proud to be Americans. Tonight was all for the country.” [17:15–17:59]
  • Quote (US Hockey Player, on-air): "I want to thank our troops for allowing us to play this game..." [18:51]
• Brett mocks criticism that thanking the troops is “political,” framing it as genuine patriotism.

7. Therapy Over Patriotism: The HuffPost Article

[19:00–21:30]

• HuffPost publishes an article suggesting that “discomfort” watching the Olympics as an American is normal and therapy-worthy.
  • Excerpt: “If waving the American flag or chanting USA turns you off right now, you are not alone.”
  • Therapists quoted on the “cognitive dissonance” of rooting for US teams while hating US policies.
• Brett lampoons the trend of “therapy speak” and the infantilization of adults unable to process mixed feelings about patriotism.
  • “Is this like Ms. Rachel, we're dealing with our big feeling. Why are we treating adults like they are emotionally dysregulated toddlers?” [20:50]
• Online backlash is swift and sarcastic:
  • Quote (EV magazine): “Oh shut up.”
  • Quote (User): “If worthless media outlets like the HuffPost turn you off right now, you are not alone.” [21:20]

8. Brett’s Closing Thoughts:

[21:30–end]

• Encourages listeners to “log off,” enjoy sports, and not let politics ruin communal moments.
• “Go touch grass, step outside of politics enough so that you can just enjoy some nonpartisan American revelry. Because left versus right, right now, who cares? We still beat Canada in both women and men's hockey. That should be more than enough to uplift and unite us all as a nation.” [21:50]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alyssa Liu (about her comeback): “I wanna skate just because I love it.” [01:58]
• Alyssa Liu (post-performance): “That's what I'm fucking talking about.” [03:11]
• Brett Cooper: “She has just emerged as this joyful and honestly pretty patriotic national treasure who the entire country, regardless of political allegiance, was able to rally behind.” [06:10]
• Jack Hughes, Team USA Hockey: "I love the USA. I love my teammates… we're so proud to be Americans. Tonight was all for the country.” [17:15–17:59]
• Brett Cooper: “I'm sorry if I get excited that somebody with great joy and skill does not do all of those things, like, let me have that moment.” [16:30]
• Brett Cooper (on polarization): “I do not need to know Alyssa Liu's politics. I do not need to agree with her politics in order to revel in her joy and appreciate her skill.” [16:40]
• Brett Cooper (on “therapy speak”): “Is this like Ms. Rachel, we're dealing with our big feeling… that's how a large portion of… our fellow Americans, act on a day to day basis. That's your black pill moment.” [20:50]

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–06:00 — Alyssa Liu’s Olympic comeback, performance style, and joy
• 04:47–06:00 — Liu’s only public political statements
• 06:00–13:00 — Social media discourse: left vs. right, “claiming” Alyssa
• 13:40–15:30 — Critique of conservative purity tests, Brett’s philosophy
• 15:30–17:00 — Embracing minimal, joyful patriotism (and why it matters)
• 17:15–18:13 — US hockey gold; Jack Hughes’ postgame interview
• 18:51 — Thanking the troops: “the most American thing I have ever seen”
• 19:00–21:30 — HuffPost’s “therapy for patriotism” article and reactions
• 21:50–end — Brett’s closing encouragement for national unity

Tone & Style

Brett’s delivery is passionate, irreverent, and emotionally transparent, mixing humor with social critique. She skillfully contrasts emotional moments (crying at fan edits; “infectious joy”) with sarcastic commentary on “therapy speak” and online tribalism. The episode invites listeners to embrace national moments of joy, regardless of the underlying political fray.